CENTRE COUNTY — Good news for seniors in Centre County: Farmers market vouchers have officially arrived and are ready for distribution, despite a late start and fewer vouchers than in years past.
After a brief delay due to packaging concerns and a federal funding shortfall, the Centre County Office of Aging is back on track, gearing up to hand out the popular Senior farmers market Nutrition Program vouchers which began Wednesday, June 4.
“We were informed last week there was going to be a two-week delay on the vouchers because they had to repackage them,” Quentin Burchfield, Director of the Office of Aging said at the Centre County Commissioners meeting. “As it turns out, we got them this week.”
The program provides eligible older adults with a booklet of five $5 vouchers, totaling $25 that can be used at participating farmers markets across the state. The goal is simple: support Pennsylvania farmers and make fresh, locally grown produce more accessible to seniors.
“We are now preparing our vouchers, and we plan starting tomorrow to start distributing them to our older adults in Centre County.”
Distribution started Wednesday, June 4 and continues throughout the month. Centre County Office of Aging will be distributing vouchers at the following locations throughout the County:
- Wednesday, June 4: Madisonburg Senior Center — 10 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, June 5: Philipsburg YMCA — 9 a.m. to noon
- Tuesday, June 10: Snow Shoe Senior Center —10 a.m. to noon
- Thursday, June 12: Centre Hall Senior Center — 10 a.m. to noon
- Monday, June 16: Centre Region Senior Center — 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The Office of Aging will distribute vouchers at the Willowbank Building on the following dates between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.:
- Wednesday, June 4: Room 144
- Thursday, June 5: Room 116
- Friday, June 6: Room 144
Additional information can be found on the Centre County website at pameals.pa.gov/public/farmmarketsearch
Burchfield encourages eligible seniors to act quickly this year.
“We were supposed to get 7,000 and we received 5,415,” he said. “Last year, we had about a hundred left over at the end of the season. This year, I anticipate we’ll run out, so don’t wait until the last minute.”
Vouchers are on a first-come, first-served basis.
The reduction in supply isn’t unique to Centre County. Offices on Aging across the state are facing similar cuts due to a shortfall in federal funding.
“According to the Department of Agriculture, they didn’t receive the federal funding they had anticipated,” Burchfield explained. “This program is supported by both the state and federal government, so every aging office has received less vouchers.”
